PGRI students threaten to go on strike over shooting

JAKARTA (JP): About 200 PGRI 2 vocational high school students marched on Friday to the Bogor City Council, threatening to go on a "study strike" and demanding a thorough police investigation into the shooting of two fellow students.

The group's spokesman, Firman, said the students saw the police aim their guns at them during a brawl between PGRI students and Respati vocational high school students on Tuesday. Hermanto, 16, and Nurjaya, 17, were shot.

"The shots were not warning shots. The guns were directed at us," the third-year student told councilors Eman Sulaeman and Taufik.

"If the shots were intended as warning shots, the guns would have been aimed at the sky, not us. The proof is there, with one student shot in the back, and another shot in his leg."

Eleven other students and two police officers suffered injuries during the afternoon brawl on Jl. Padjajaran.

In contradiction to Firman's description of the students' injuries, police said Hermanto and Nurjaya were shot in the chest by stray bullets when officers tried to disperse students at about 3 p.m. Students pelted each other with stones and brandished sickles and swords.

The two injured officers were identified as Chief Corporal Sumantri, 45, and First Sgt. Ngadiman, 40. They suffered severe head injuries from being hit by rocks.

Firman said PGRI students were defending themselves against Respati students, who he said were armed with machetes.

"We stood our ground. Why were our friends shot at? This investigation has to be thorough, and the shooters must be found."

Firman also demanded the strictest action be taken against Respati students.

"If not, we'll stop studying. We'll go on strike," Firman said.

Eman said he would speak to the police precinct chief about the matter. Taufik urged the students not to forgo their studies because it would cause losses to them.

About 50 Respati students from East Jakarta attacked the PGRI students in a long-standing feud between the schools.

Bogor Police detective chief Capt. Umar Sumardi said the police were doing their best to disperse the fighting students when the shots were fired.

"The students were hit by loose bullets. In the middle of the chaos, the students ran away and we were busy trying to aid the victims."

Cipayung

Separately, a school in the Cipayung area, East Jakarta, was attacked by three local rival schools on Thursday morning, leaving one student dead and causing damage to the school's building, police and the victim's parents said.

Denny Chandra, 18, a second-year student of technical vocational high school STM Budi Murni, died from severe gash wounds to his back, right arm and hand. Forensic examination indicated Denny tried to fend off the attack with his right arm.

The victim's father, Sapri, a resident of Pondok Gede in Bekasi, quoted witnesses as saying that his son ran from a classroom to the bathroom, but was cornered there by the attackers.

Police said the school was attacked at about 10 a.m. by dozens of students from STM PGRI 18, STM Cagar Budaya and STM Yanmor. Several badly injured students are being treated at Persaudaraan Haji Hospital in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta. Several school windows were broken.

East Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Hidayat Fabanyo said that no teachers were injured during the brawl and the police were still trying to determine the motive.

"We are still investigating the motive for the brawl and have questioned several students and witnesses." He added that brawls among students in the area were common. (24/21/edt/01/ylt)